Brush Fire In Pacific Palisades Prompts PCH Closure

PACIFIC PALISADES (CBSLA.com) — A roughly 10-acre brush fire in Pacific Palisades Tuesday caused the shutdown of a major roadway.

The blaze, which burned alongside the 14800 block of Pacific Coast Highway near Chautauqua Boulevard, started shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Sky2’s Kevin Takumi reported that the fire burned on a hillside near homes, which made it difficult for firefighters to access.

Three city helicopter crews, one county helicopter crew, four water-dropping helicopters, “Super Scooper” aircraft, as well as 160 firefighters, including some from Santa Monica, assisted in the effort.

Around 4:50 p.m., most of the active flames were knocked down, Takumi reported.

Crews, however, were still putting out hot spots at night.

“It was an unclean burn. There were a lot of pockets of fuel still inside. Obviously the winds are still upon us, we have stronger winds coming in tonight, so we’ll keep companies out here all night long,” LAFD Battalion Chief Guy Tomlinson said.

Initially, the blaze only prompted the closure of northbound lanes of the PCH, but the highway was later shut down in both directions between Chautauqua Blvd. and Temescal Canyon Road.

Later in the night, Caltrans opened a few lanes to allow traffic to flow in both directions.

The westbound 10 Freeway from Lincoln Boulevard to the PCH was also closed.